Would you want your doctor, your biggest advocate for your health, working under conditions where their clinical decisions are potentially driven by a fear for their employment?- Letter by an Orthopaedic Registrar #qldpol #smoqld #keepourdoctors
I am currently training to be an Orthopaedic Surgeon. I am 31 years old. I completed high school in 2000, then undertook an undergraduate Bachelor of Commerce /Science degree, followed by my Medical Degree – all completed by 2008.
I have worked for Qld Health for the past 6 years since my graduation from medical school. I am still studying everyday to ensure I am the best possible doctor I can be for my patients. I am due to qualify as a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon in 2017. My plan was to continue to work in the public health system.
This comment won’t be as eloquent as I would like, as I have just finished work for the week (I saw 70 patients in clinic today after doing my ward round at 7am – I work at Ipswich Hospital) and I have teaching from 4-6pm (as I have every Friday afternoon). This teaching is unpaid, and is provided for me by my senior surgeon colleagues (who are also unpaid) so that I can be the best possible trained surgeon to work in your Public Hospital System.
I am incredibly insulted by this Governments’ arrogant conduct with respect to the SMO and VMO contracts. I am also astounded as to the ignorance of this particular Courier Mail editorial to which Premier Newman has provided a link.
The main point I would like to make is this ……
The contracts in question stipulate that a senior doctor can be dismissed at the discretion of management without question or truly fair arbitration (see Industrial Relations Act s194 (2) and s73 (1)(a)).
My problem, and many senior doctors’ problems is that, traditionally, doctors have been the advocates for patients in the Public Health System.
For example, based on a doctor’s clinical assessment, they may deem a particular treatment protocol to be best suited for a patient. This protocol may not be deemed the most “cost effective” by a health bureaucrat.
Some examples are high cost cancer drugs, or an extended stay post a total hip replacement if we think it is warranted to ensure a patient is safe to mobilise at home. If we advocate for our patients’ best interests in a case like this in the future under these contracts, we risk dismissal by management.
Would you want your doctor, your biggest advocate for your health, working under conditions where their clinical decisions are potentially driven by a fear for their employment?
Doctors, who take the Hippocratic Oath when they graduate form medical school (look up the wording of it – we take it very seriously), can’t imagine that working in conditions like this is conducive to a high quality health system.
In stating the above, doctors’ are acutely aware of the economic pressures on our health system and, whenever possible, opt for the most cost-effective decisions we can.
Senior doctors’ (SMOs & VMOs) primary concern in the public system is not their own earning capacity. It is patient care, research and teaching.
These contracts question our commitment to these three pillars, which are essential to any good health system. This question of our commitment is what we find so insulting and hurtful.
Personally, I am not being asked to sign a contract in question yet, as I am still a training surgeon.
If my senior surgeon colleagues are forced on to contracts which they find to be unfair and unsafe for patients’ care, then I imagine they will leave the public system with regret. This will be the end of my training in Queensland as I am unable to be formally trained by overseas medical graduates.
This dispute is putting my future as a surgeon at risk and the future of the health of all Queenslanders at risk as well.
The issues here are very complex and far more reaching then the Premier, the Health Minister and The Courier Mail are making out. I implore the public to become as informed as possible with respect to the issues at hand.
Source: Facebook